Qualifications
| 2007 – 2010 | Doctor in Biotechnology
University of Bourgogne (France) |
| 2009 – 2010 | Master Business of Administration (double courses alternance)
Dijon Institute of Business Administration (IAE Dijon), France |
| 2006 – 2007 | Master in Food Science and Biotechnology. National Institute of Agricultural Science, Food and Environment (Dijon Agrosup), France |
| 2001 – 2006 | Engineer in Food Technology
Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam |
Relevant experiences
| Jan.13 – now | Deputy director of Research, Innovation and Technology transfer Direction
Leader, Plant biotechnology team, Department of Life Sciences, USTH |
| 2022-2024 | Vingroup Innovation fund VINIF2021.DA0002 | PI | Genome editing for improving the Phosphate use efficiency in rice |
| 2022-2023 | VAST 7 priority directions
(VAST02.05/22-23) |
PI | Functional characterization of gene controlling crown root development under abiotic stress using CRISPR/Cas9 |
| 2022-2024 | VAST 4.0
(CN4000.01/22-24) |
Key member | Precision agriculture using remote sensing and deep learning for monitoring rice health |
| 2021-2023 | Vietnam-China JRP (NĐT/CN/21/24) | Key member | Research on micronutrient bio-fortification in rice using Genome editing technology |
| 2020-2021 | Global Challenges Research Fund-UK | Key
partner |
Improving crop yield in dry and nutrient-poor soils via more resilient rice varieties |
| 2017-2020 | NAFOSTED
106-NN.03-2016.15 |
PI | Discovery of QTLs associated with the sensitivity to Jasmonic acid linked to plant growth and stress tolerance in Vietnamese rice collection using Genome Wide Association Studies |
| 2018-2020 | USTH | Key member | Investigating the gene expression pattern of Vietnamese rice accessions (Oryza sativa L.) grown under Phosphorus starvation and the correlation with Jasmonic acid. |
| 2016-2017 | USTH- Consortium | Co- PI | Identifying new plant genes involved in abiotic and biotic interactions and productivity |
| 2014-2016 | USTH- Consortium | Coordinator | Functional characterization of rice genetic resources and genetic diversity of rice pathogens in Vietnam |
| 2013-2015 | Vietnam-France Joint JRP (MARD) | Participant | Characterization of new genes and alleles involved in root development and drought tolerance in rice |
|
Jun.11 – Jun.12 |
Postdoctoral fellow at French National Center for Scientific Research UMR 6022 – European Council FP7 ICON project : “A new metabolic pathway engineering to produce the branched-chain fatty acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for use in biolubrication” |
| Oct.07 – Dec.10 | PhD Candidate fellow at Institute Jules Guyot, University of Burgundy (France)
– Project: “Membrane lipid composition in the Lactic Acid Bacteria under stress conditions: Physical role of the Cyclic Fatty Acid in Oenococcus oeni ATCC BAA1163 and Lactococcus lactis sub cremoris MG1363” |
Networking
– In charge of Establishing the Research cooperation between Life Sciences department (USTH, VN) and Applied Life Science Department (BK21 Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Gyeongsang National University (GNU, Korea) and Kyung Hee University (KHU, Korea)
– Partner of Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) networking grant among UK (University of Nottingham), Philippines (IRRI), India (National Institute of Plant Genome Research) and Vietnam (USTH).
– In charge of Establishing the Research cooperation between USTH and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST, TW), University Network for Tropical Agriculture (UNTA).
– Coordinator of Cultivar project between USTH and The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD, FR).
– USTH Coordinator of International joint laboratory on Functional Genomics & Biotechnology for Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LMI-RICE).
Patent
Title: “Đoạn trình tự khởi động cảm ứng với stress và biểu hiện đặc hiệu ở hễ rễ phân lập từ gen lúa, vectơ tái tổ hợp biểu hiện và cây chuyển gen chứa vectơ này”
– Organism: University of Science and Technology of Hanoi
– Inventors: To Thi Mai Huong*, Ta Anh Son,
– Application number: 1-2021-07672
– Application date: 30 November 2021
– Publication date: 06-April 2022
– Priority to Vietnam: 08 May 2022
Research interests
Plant Genome research for Sustainable agriculture:From Genome-Wide Association Study to Crop improvement
Selected publications
- Duong Thi Thuy Dang, Thi Linh Nguyen, … et Huong Thi Mai To. A novel GLYCEROPHOSPHODIESTER PHOSPHODIESTERASE 13 is involved in the Phosphate starvation-induced lipid remodeling in rice. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2025:228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110230
- To, H.T.M., Tran, D. & Mai, N.T.P. Genome-Wide Association Studies Reveal Candidate Genes Relating to Resistant Starch Content in Vietnamese Rice Landraces. Plant Mol Biol Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-025-01568-4https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-024-09448-2
- Quỳnh Hoa N, Mộc Linh Hương L, Giang Sơn T, and To, H.T.M. Ảnh hưởng của bón silic đến sinh trưởng và năng suất của một số giống lúa bản địa Việt Nam. In. Kỷ yếu hội nghị sinh lý thực vật toàn quốc lần thứ 3. , pp. 347–353.
- Sơn TG, Hoa NQ, Minh CB, Hiệp LCN, and Hương TTM. Combining image processing and genome-wide association study for revealing quantitative trait loci related to grain size in rice. TNU Journal of Science and Technology. 2025:230(09):168–175. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnujst.11646
- Nguyen DB, Phi TCM, Tran TPT, Nguyen TTH, Tran TO, To TMH, and Tran NH. Investigation of extracellular tyrosinase isolated from Ralstonia solanacearum and screening of tyrosinase inhibitors from some plant extracts. Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam. 2025:67(5). https://doi.org/10.31276/VJST.67(5).38-46
- Thi Cam Mien P, Thi Thu Hoa N, Duc Ha C, To, H.T.M., Thi Oanh T, Hoang Tu P, Duc Bach N, Thị Cẩm Miện P, Thị Thu Hoa N, Đức Hà C, et al. Extraction and investigation of phenolase activity of tyrosinase from two varieties of agaricus bisporus cultivated in vietnam . TNU Journal of Science and Technology. 2025:230(13):418–424. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.12704
- Bui PT, Pham Q, To TMH, and Do TP. Investigating the stability of phenotype, seed components and powdery mildew resistance of the GmMLO edited soybean plants. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology. 2024:22(4):560–572. https://doi.org/10.15625/vjbt-21452
- Tran, G.S., Nguyen, Q.H., Nguyen, L.T.T…et To HTM 2024. Unraveling New Genetic Elements Associated with the Morphological Changes and Relative Silicon Content in Rice Using GenomeWide Association Studies (GWAS). J. Plant Biol. 67, 467–480 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-024-09448-2
- Tran, T.T.T., Le, L.H.M., Nguyen, T.T. et To HTM. QTL-seq identifies genomic region associated with the crown root development under Jasmonic acid response. Funct Integr Genomics 24, 141 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-024-01422-y
- M. K. Luong, S. S. Tong, H. Mai, T. M. H. To, Giang Son Tran, D. B. Pham, T. H. Phan, V. C. Le, T. L. Pham, T. H. A. Tong. UAV hyperspectral image acquisition and processing, an application for nutrient estimation of rice in Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences, 46(4), 533–552. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/21306
- Nguyen TT, Nguyen TC, Do PT, To HTM 2024. Effect of gibberellin on crown root development in the mutant of the rice plasmodesmal Germin-like protein OsGER4. Funct Integr Genomics. Mar 18;24(2):59 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-024-01341-y . PMID: 38498207.
- Chu Bao Minh, To Thi Mai Huong, Tran Giang Son. 2024. Rice grain trait estimation using color space conversion and deep learning-based image segmentation. TNU Journal of Science and Technology. 229(07): 133 – 140. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.1019113. Nguyen, T.T., Pham, T.D., Do, P.T. … To HTM (2024). The Plasmodesmal Protein OsGER4 is Involved in Auxin Mediated Crown Root Development in Rice. J. Plant Biol. 67, 221–230 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-024-09424-w
- TT Nguyen, DT Pham, NH Nguyen, PT Do, HTM To.,2023. The Germin-like protein gene OsGER4 is involved in heat stress response in rice root development. Functional & Integrative Genomics. 23 (3), 271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01201-1
- Phuong Nga, M. T., Thuy Linh, N. T., & Mai Huong, T. T. (2023). Genome-wide association studies for identification of genes and QTLs controlling the palmitic acid content in rice bran oil. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology, 21(2), 337–345. https://doi.org/10.15625/1811-4989/18607
- Thi Mai Huong To, Thi Linh Nguyen, Thi Ngoc An Do, Lan Phuong Nguyen, Nga TP Mai. Investigating the diversity of resistant starch in Vietnamese rice collection. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 65 No. 2 (2023). https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.65(2).59-64
- Nguyen, N.H., Bui, T.P., Le, N.T., Nguyen, C.X., Le, M.T.T., Dao, N.T., Phan, Q., Van Le, T., To, H.M.T., Pham, N.B. and Chu, H.H., 2023. Disrupting Sc-uORFs of a transcription factor bZIP1 using CRISPR/Cas9 enhances sugar and amino acid contents in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Planta, 257(3), p.57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04089-0
- Le, T.V.A., To, H.T.M., Nguyen, T.K.O. and Mai, N.T., 2023. Systemic adaptation of rice plants under low phosphate conditions and interaction with endophytic bacteria. Italian Journal of Agronomy, 18(1). http://doi:10.4081/ija.2023.2181
- Mai, N.T., Nguyen, L.T.T., Tran, S.G. and To, H.T.M., 2023. Genome-wide association study reveals useful QTL and genes controlling the fatty acid composition in rice bran oil using Vietnamese rice landraces. Functional & Integrative Genomics, 23(2), pp.1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01080-6
- To, H.T.M., Nguyen, V.P., Chu, H.H., Mai, N. T. P., 2023. Phosphate starvation enhances Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae resistance in rice. Biologia Plantarum. 67:262-270. 67:262-270. DOI: 10.32615/bp.2023.013
- Tô Thị Mai Hương, Trần Thị Ánh Nguyệt, Nguyễn Đức Bách (2023). Khảo sát ảnh hưởng của tween 80 đến giá trị dinh dưỡng của tảo xoắn (Spirulina platensis).Tạp chí Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn. Số 6/2023. Trang 181-187
- Trần Thị Ánh Nguyệt, Nguyễn Đức Bách, Tô Thị Mai Hương (2023). Ảnh hưởng của tween 80 đến sự tích lũy lipit, thành phần axit béo và hàm lượng axit amin tự do của tảo chlorella vulgaris. Tạp chí Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn. Số 6/2023, trang
- Mai, N.T.P., Nguyen, L.T.T., Tran, A.T.N., Ngo, N.T.H., Chu, A.T.Q., To, H.T.M., 2023. Natural variation in fatty acid composition of diverse vietnamese rice germplasm. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology. Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15625/1811-4989/17984
- To Thi Mai Huong, Mai Thi Phuong Nga. Antioxidant activities and free amino acid content of rice responded to xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae infection under phosphate starvation condition. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology.Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15625/1811- 4989/18126
- To, H.T.M., Pham, D.T., Le Thi, V.A., Nguyen, T.T., Tran, T.A., Ta, A.S., Chu, H.H. and Do, P.T., 2022. The Germin‐like protein OsGER4 is involved in promoting crown root development under exogenous jasmonic acid treatment in rice. The Plant Journal, 112(3), pp.860-874. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.1598
- Gonin, M., Jeong, K., Coudert, Y., Lavarenne, J., Hoang, G.T., Bes, M., To, H.T.M., Thiaw, M.R.N., Do, T.V., Moukouanga, D. and Guyomarc’h, S., 2022. CROWN ROOTLESS1 bindsDNA with a relaxed specificity and activates OsROP and OsbHLH044 genes involved in crown root formation in rice. The Plant Journal, 111(2), pp.546-566. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15838
- To, H.T.M., Chu, H.H. and Mai, N.T.P., 2022. Biochemical and molecular adaptaion of rice plants towards low phosphate condition. Tap Chi Sinh Hoc, 44(3). https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9023/17087
- Le Thi Van Anh, H.D., Phuc, N.H.G., Pham Quynh Trang, L.H.N., Quynh, N.M. and To, H.T.M., 2022. Agarose-paraffin double embedding assisted with 3D printing for high throughput rice root sectioning. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology, 20(1), pp.45-51. https://doi.org/10.15625/1811- 4989/15706
- Mai, N.T., Mai, C.D., Van Nguyen, H., Le, K.Q., Duong, L.V., Tran, T.A. and To, H.T.M., 2021. Discovery of new genetic determinants of morphological plasticity in rice roots and shoots under phosphate starvation using GWAS. Journal of Plant Physiology, 257, p.153340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153340
For further information:
| ORCID ID | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9435-2984 |
| Google Scholar | https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=urF0ITMAAAAJ&hl=vi |
| Research Gate | https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Huong-To-4 |
